Advances in Adjuvanted Influenza Vaccines

Abstract

The numerous influenza infections that occur every year present a major public health problem. Influenza vaccines are important for the prevention of the disease; however, their effectiveness against infection can be suboptimal. Particularly in the elderly, immune induction can be insufficient, and the vaccine efficacy against infection is usually lower than that in young adults. Vaccine efficacy can be improved by the addition of adjuvants, and an influenza vaccine with an oil-in-water adjuvant MF59, FLUAD, has been recently licensed in the United States and other countries for persons aged 65 years and older. Although the adverse effects of adjuvanted vaccines have been a concern, many adverse effects of currently approved adjuvanted influenza vaccines are mild and acceptable, given the overriding benefits of the vaccine. Since sufficient immunity can be induced with a small amount of vaccine antigen in the presence of an adjuvant, adjuvanted vaccines promote dose sparing and the prompt preparation of vaccines for pandemic influenza. Adjuvants not only enhance the immune response to antigens but can also be effective against antigenically different viruses. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of influenza vaccines, both past and present, before presenting a discussion of adjuvanted influenza vaccines and their future.

Innovative translational platforms for rapid developing clinical vaccines against COVID‐19 and other infectious disease

“…Ever since then, MF59 platform has been advanced to make Fluad quadrivalent vaccine against influenza virus subtypes A (H1N1, H3N2) and B (Yamagata, Victoria), Audenz™ against an influenza A of H5N1, as well as Focetria against 2009 H1N1 influenza A pandemic. [20] Noteworthy, a recent systematic review on sources from electronic databases and grey literature up to February 7, 2020 showed that, in terms of vaccine effectiveness (VE), MF59 adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccines were effective in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza in older adults (aged ≥65 years). [18] However, the review also showed that in terms of relative VE, there was no significant difference between the MF59 adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccines and non-adjuvanted vaccines of either trivalent one or quadrivalent one.…”

“…Ever since then, MF59 platform has been advanced to make Fluad quadrivalent vaccine against influenza virus subtypes A (H1N1, H3N2) and B (Yamagata, Victoria), Audenz™ against an influenza A of H5N1, as well as Focetria against 2009 H1N1 influenza A pandemic. [ 20 ]…”

Unlocking the Power of Influenza Vaccines for Pediatric Population: A Narrative Review

“…Adjuvant systems 03 (AS03) and emulsions of oil in water MF59 have been used as adjuvants in pandemic monovalent influenza vaccinations and seasonal adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccines (ATIVs) [56,57]. AS03 is an emulsion of oil and water that includes polysorbate 80, DL-α-tocopherol, and squalene [56,58]. It has been used in the development of pandemic influenza vaccines and enhanced the immune response [56].…”

“…It has been used in the development of pandemic influenza vaccines and enhanced the immune response [56]. Aqua-oil emulsion is another adjuvant that has been utilized in pandemic monovalent and seasonal ATIVs, which is MF59 [56,58]. Squalene, polysorbate 80, and sorbitan trioleate make up its composition [56].…”

“…Squalene, polysorbate 80, and sorbitan trioleate make up its composition [56]. It has been demonstrated that MF59 increases the immunological response to the vaccination and boosts its effectiveness in older people [58]. According to a study that was published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology, children respond well to AS03-and MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccinations, which also cause strong immune responses [59].…”